What Is It Like to Have Bipolar Disorder? (Rage & Irritability, Part 5)

Have you ever kicked a hole in your wall because you couldn’t find your favorite pair of boots? I have. If you have, we should talk. 😉 It was ridiculous really, but a perfect example of bipolar rage and irritability at its finest. The irritability felt during mania is irrational, illogical, and feels AWFUL. Logically I know that I’m having a two-year-old’s temper tantrum, but something inside will not quit. The manic brain holds onto the anger and irritability like a dog with a bone. I was so pissed about not finding my boots for a good three hours.

Most people can relate to what irritability and anger feel like. So what is the difference between their irritability and that of a person with bipolar disorder? Simply put, the anger and irritability is exaggerated in all aspects; severity and length of time the feelings persist. When irritable (even over something small and mundane) it can be a whole day or longer before mentally being able to move past it.

Unfortunately, these feelings of rage and irritability can become violent. It is a symptom of bipolar disorder that I think is often avoided in discussions because of its ugliness. Nobody, and I mean nobody, wants to be associated with being a violent person. This again, is exactly why it is so important for bipolar stigma to be demolished. The less stigma attached, the more likely people are to seek help to learn to manage their bipolar symptoms. The manic rage and irritability a bipolar person feels quickly becomes not just a problem for the person with bipolar, rather a problem for society.

Next post we will discuss the final manic symptom of hypersexuality.

** As always, please remember, I am not a doctor. Just a so bipolar lady with a computer. 😉 So if you suspect you or someone you know has bipolar disorder, always consult with your physician or psychiatrist first.